thunderbird partnership foundation’s regional cannabis
TRANSCRIPT
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
AFN National Cannabis Forum
Thunderbird Partnership Foundation’s
Regional Cannabis Dialogue Session
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Mission Statement
To foster dialogue and explore a variety of perspectives for reducing the
potential harms of recreational cannabis legalization within First Nation
communities.
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Cannabis Regional Dialogue Sessions
Increasing dialogue opportunities about Cannabis for First Nations communities resulting from the Canadian Government announcement of planned legalization of recreational cannabis by 2018.
WHY
Funding for this project comes from the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Secretariat of Health Canada
HOW
Ten regions participated across CanadaWHO
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Discuss Evidence Applied Within a First Nations Context
Understanding the history and current context of the community will help when starting dialogue about the potential risks and benefits of cannabis use.
These conversations are especially important around:pain management, mental health, addictions, youth, pregnant women, First Nations under surveillance with probation, parole, child welfare,community planning.
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
First Nations Mental Wellness
Continuum (FNMWC)
framework
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
FNMWC Mental Wellness Themes
Participant feedback has been categorized into the FNMWC themes to support future cannabis related programs and services
Culture as Foundation
Community Development, Ownership, and Capacity Building
Quality Care System and Competent Service Delivery
Collaboration with Partners
Enhanced Flexible Funding
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Harm Reduction
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
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CannabisDialogue Sessions
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
Harm ReductionRejecting regulated
recreational cannabis does
not reduce harms to
individuals or the community
People who use will continue to use and if their only access is the illicit market then they will continue to use with risk to their safety due to mold, pesticides, and marijuana that may be laced with other drugs
The right to health as stated in UNDRIP means that everyone has the right to health, and according to the UN Outcomes Document on the World Drug Problem, everyone has the right to treatment and prevention related to drugs
We increase harms through criminalization of people who use cannabis for personal use, such as to cope and survive
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
Reduce impacts of criminalization:Community By-laws banning
cannabis will be no more effective than the bylaws
banning alcohol
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Research Methodology
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Engagement Process
Follow-up Report for validation
Focus Group
Dialogue Sessions
Webinar & Cannabis Survey
Confirmation of
Participation
Follow-up Webinar,
for further validation
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Ten regional focus groups across Canada
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Focus Group Discussion Topics
1) Holding effective community conversations about cannabis
2) Defining and identifying community needs in addressing the community impacts of cannabis legalization
3) Mental health, wellness and cannabis
4) Youth and impacts of cannabis legalization
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Harm Reduction
Regional Feedback
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Regional feedback regarding cannabis and harm reduction
fell into two categories;
Regional Feedback: Harm Reduction
EducationSome participants
expressed a need for education regarding the benefits and impacts of
cannabis as well as cannabis driven harm reduction approaches
Ban CannabisSome participants
explained that some community members are seeking to ban cannabis
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
National Report Recommendations:
A snapshot from regional focus groups
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Culture as Foundation
u Ensure culture is the foundation for community activities and services surrounding cannabis such as educational workshops and treatment programs
u Ensure Elders and/or language speakers are present to facilitate dialogue on the impacts of cannabis legalization
u Promote safe environments inclusive and respectful of all community members beliefs and values
Survey results also support the importance of using culture as a foundation as participants indicated that First Nations culture-based practices are important in supporting youth cannabis education.
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Community Development, Ownership, and Capacity Buildingu Develop community-based policies and initiatives to reduce the impacts of
cannabis legalization on community wellness
u Develop community-based human resource policies, particularly regarding cannabis use and the workplace
u Include all community members are included in cannabis related dialogue and decision-making
u Encourage participation in community dialogue and activities by extending personalized invitations through home visits
u Provide anonymous methods of communication to facilitate community feedback (example: comment boxes)
u Increase community access to physical safe spaces such as an existing gathering place and extend hours of wellness-based programs and services
Survey results also suggest that a number of community supports are important in promoting non-use. For example, when asked what influences youth’s decision not to use cannabis, participants indicated a number of factors relating to community development including; community and family activities, community wellness programs/initiatives, land-based activities and recreation and sport activities.
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Quality Care System and Competent Service Deliveryu Conduct culturally-centred educational workshops on cannabis
legislation and health impacts for communities and specific population groups such as youth, Elders, frontline workers and pregnant women
u Develop accessible educational material related to cannabis (brochures, flyers, social media, etc.)
u Utilize social media to further engage youth and provide accurate cannabis information
u Promote awareness and education to reduce stigma surrounding mental wellness and wellness care
u Provide support for individuals with mental wellness challenges through home visits
Survey respondents echoed the importance of providing assessible educational material as they indicated they would like to access cannabis-related resources through community conversations, print material, electronic material, and First Nations culture-based practices.
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Collaboration with Partnersu Foster collaborative relationships between community
members, educators, law enforcement and frontline wellness workers to reduce community impacts of cannabis legalization
u Engage community members, leadership, educators, police, wellness workers and youth in collaborative cannabis related program development
u Engage support for cannabis related education, training and resource development
u Network and engage with other communities to exchange cannabis related knowledge and approaches
This need for collaboration was echoed by youth survey respondents as they indicated they would like to receive cannabis related information from a variety of sources and stakeholders including parents/guardians, Elders and health care professionals.
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Enhanced Flexible Funding
Secure and maintain flexible funding to support:u cannabis and wellness related education and
awareness initiatives
u that can be allocated based on community specific needs resulting from impacts of cannabis legalization
u Need a public health approach
Adult survey results also suggest that there is a need for increased funding for cannabis related education for youth, mental health and addictions supports as well as increased funding for frontline wellness workers.
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Tool development
• Webinars • Poster & pamphlets • Fact sheets • Guidebooks• Videos • First Nation specific cannabis curriculum & trainings • Early intervention program for youth• Adult and youth survey
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
Questions
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019
THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
CannabisDialogue Sessions
National Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp
Conference
For more info:www.thunderbirdpf.org
AFN National Cannabis Forum 2019